Nasal Septal Abscess: A Retrospective Study of 20 Cases in KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia

Objective: Twenty patients who presented to the ENT, head and neck department with nasal septal abscess were retrospectively studied. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: KVG Medical College and Hospital, Sullia. Study period: January 2006 to June 2010 (54 months) Patients: Twenty patients (17 males and 3 females), aged between 7 to 45 years (average age 25.25 years), with nasal septal abscess were studied. Intervention: All patients were admitted and posted for emergency incision and drainage under antibiotic cover. In 13 cases the destroyed septal cartilage was repaired with autologous conchal cartilage in the same sitting of incision and drainage. In two cases the same procedure was done in two different sittings. Results: Sixteen patients were implanted autologous conchal cartilage at time of incision and drainage and most of them doing well at 6 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Nasal septal abscess promptly treated under antibiotic cover total reconstruction of abscess-induced destruction of nasal septal cartilage with patients own conchal cartilage grafts so far, resulted in normal dorsum of the nose being retained during follow-up.